Scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings



June 17 1941.- v, c, NY 2,246,111

SCRUBBING MACHINE FOR FLOORS AND FLOOR GOVERINGS I Filed Aug. 2, 1938 2Shets-S'neet 1 1 N (:1 1 N IQ N Q q BY 5% Zia? June 17, 1941. v. QSNYDER 2,246,111

SCRUBBING MACHINE FOR moons AND FLOOR GOVERINGS Filed Aug. 2, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY (fzbfor CJflya/er v; g v

ATTORNEYS Patented June 17, 1941 SCRUBBING MACHINE FOR FLOORS AND FLOORCOVERINGS Victor C. Snyder, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The French,Renovating Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio ApplicationAugust 2, 1938, Serial No. 222,658

4 Claims.

This invention relates as indicated to scrubbing machines for floors andfloor coverings, but has reference more particularly to a machine whichis especially adapted for the cleaning of carpets, rugs and similarfloor coverings, and for sanding, polishing and other floor treatmentoperations.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine of thecharacter described which is of a compact, sturdy construction and ofwell balanced design, and which can be easily operated.

Another object of the invention i to provide a machine of the characterdescribed in which a desired reciprocatory movement is imparted to thescrubbing brush of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described means for distributing a cleaning fluid uniformlyover the entire length of the brush.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described a highly efficient arrangement of the brush, suctionfan and motor for driving the brush and fan, as well as a highlydesirable arrangement of the fluid tank and waste receptacle.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particular-1y pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a side elevationof the machine; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of themachine taken on the line 3-3 of Figs- 1 and 4; Fig. 4 is a longitudinalcross-sectional View of the machine taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig.3 and showing the brush mounting; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary,cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and showing theadjustment for taking up the slack in the brush driving chain; and Fig.7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1,and showing the manner in which the waste receptacle is secured to themachine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the machine comprises aframe consisting of side members I and 2 and a cross member 3.. Ex-

the handle by means of nuts 7 which are thread- I ed onto a cross rod 8which extends through the handle 6. The handle members 4 and 5 .arereinforced by means of frame members 8 which extend between the rearextremities of the frame members i and 2 and points intermediate theends of the handle members 4 and 5.

The frame cross member 3 is removably secured to the side members i and2 by means of bolts ill and ii and has end flanges l2 which lie adjacentthe side members and support a cross rod i3. As shown in Fig. 5, thecross rod 13 has journaled thereon a. tubular shaft i l to which isrigidly secured a cylindrical brush it which constitutes the maincleaning element of the machine. Rigidly'secured to the shaft i4adjacent one end of the brush this a camllt having a. spiral groove i'itherein. A pin or stud l8 extends from the cross member 3 and into thecam groove ll, as best shown in Fig. 4, so that when the brush it isrotated, as by suitable mechanism to be presently described, a highlydesirable reciprocatory movement is imparted to the brush, which, incombination with the rotary movement, has been foundcxtremely effectivefor the cleaning of carpets and rugs.

Secured to the frame'members i and 2, as by means of bolts l9, areangles 20 which support a cross bar 2i. The cross bar 2| has rigidlymounted thereon, centrally thereof, an electric motor 2.2, the driveshaft of which extends in a direction substantially normal to the axisof the brush it. The forward end of the drive shaft to the motor extendsinto a. snail shell housing 23 in which is enclosed a suction fan whichis driven by the motor. Removably secured to the housing 23 is a vacuumnozzle 24, the mouth of which is disposed rearwardly of the brush H: asshown in Fig. 3, so as to receive the fluid and dirt thrown rearwardlyby the brush as it rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow.

For the purpose of driving the brush IS, the drive shaft of the motor 22has secured to the rear end thereof a worm 25 which is in drivingengagement with a worm wheel 26, the worm and worm wheel being enclosedin a box or housing 2'! which is rigidly attached to'the motor housing.The worm wheel 26 in turn drives a stub shaft 21a whichsextendstransversely of the ma- I chine and is journalled in a pedestal bearing28 secured to the cross bar 2|. The shaft 210 drives an endless chain 23which in turn drives a sprocket 30 rigidly secured to one end of theshaft l4 adjacent the brush I5. By means of this driving arrangement, ahigh speed motor may be employed for the suction unit and the speed ofsuch motor desirably reduced for the purpose of driving the brush l5.

For the purpose of taking up any slack in the chain 28, the cross bar 2|has elongated slots 3| (Fig. 6) through which the bolts 3|a which securethe cross bar 2| to the angles 28 extend, so that by loosening the boltsand shifting the bar 2| longitudinally of the machine, the slack in thechain may be readily taken up.

For the purpose of distributing a cleaning fluid to the brush I5, afluid supply tank 32 is mounted on cross rods 33 and 34 which extendbetween the handle members 4 and 5, such tank having an inlet 340,,closed by a cap 34b, and an outlet 35 in its bottom through which fluidflows into a fllter 36. This fllter has a strainer in its upper portionand the fluid, after passing upwardly through this strainer, flows intoa conduit 31, through a valve 38, branch conduits 39 and 40, and intothe ends of a tube 4| which extends parallel with the axis of the brushl and has a series of perforations therein through which the cleaningfluid flows onto the upper portion of the brush, as best shown in Fig.3. The tube 41 is mounted in a hood or guard 42 which in turn is securedto side guards Ma and 4Ib, secured to the frame of the machine. The hood42 is curved and extends substantially over the entire surface of thebrush l5 with the exception of the lower portion of the brush whichprojects below the frame of the machine. The valve 38 is controlled by arod 43, the upper end of which lies adjacent the front of the tank 32 ina position which is readily accessible to the operator of the machine.

Removably secured to the outlet 44 of the fan housing 23 is an inclinedconduit 45 which extends rearwardly of the machine and has an outletportion 46 extending into an opening in the front wall of a wastereceptacle 41 removably secured to the frame members 9. The receptacle41 is provided with a pair of pins 48, which, as shown in Fig. '7,extend through ears 49 on the frame members 9. Cotter pins 50,which passthrough the ends of the pins 48, normally hold the receptacle 41 in itsoperative position on the machine. The receptacle 41 has a handle 5|whereby it may be removed from the machine for the purpose of disposingof the contents of the receptacle, after the cotter pins 50 have beenwithdrawn from the pins 48. v

The machine is movably mounted upon wheels 52 which are journalled onlongitudinally spaced cross shafts 53 mounted in the side members I and2 of the frame.

In the operation of the machine, the tank 32 is first filled withcleaning fluid, the valve 38 opened and the motor 22 started. Themachine is then propelled along the carpet or rug to be cleaned. Duringsuch movement, the cleaning fluid is dropped onto the brush l5 and asthe brush rotates, this cleaning fluid is transferred to the rug orcarpet, the dirty fluid being thrown rearwardly by the brush, sucked upby the nozzle 24, and then blown into the waste receptacle 41. Due tothe extremely low mounting of the housing 23, the dirty fluid can bereadily removed by suction, with a rather low degree of vacuum.

Due to the low mounting of the vacuum unit, the motor and the variousdriving connections, the center of gravity of the machine as a whole isvery low, and the machine can be easily operated and handled with aminimum of effort. The

various units and parts are so mounted as to be easily removable forinspection, cleaning and repair, and all parts of the machine arereadily accessible.

Due to the removability of the frame cross member 3, the brush may, ifdesired, be removed from the machine, and replaced by a cylindricalsander, polisher or other element for sanding, polishing and other floortreatment operations, it being understood that the cleaning fluid is notused in such event.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings, a frame ofgenerally rectangular configuration, a rotatable brush journalled in theforward portion of said frame, a hood over said brush, fluiddistributing means mounted over said brush and within said hood, asuction nozzle immediately to the rear of said hood, a suction fan incommunication with said nozzle, 9. motor having its drive shaftconnected at one side to said fan and having the other side of saiddrive shaft connected to reduction gearing, said reduction gearing beingconnected to a chain sprocket, said nozzle, fan, motor, gearing andsprocket being mounted upon a bar extending transversely of said frame,said bar being adjustably mounted with respect to said frame.

2. In a scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings, a frame ofgenerally rectangular configuration, a rotatable brush journalled in theforward portion of said frame, a hood over said brush, fluiddistributing means mounted over said brush and within said hood, asuction nozzle immediately to the rear of said hood, a suction fan incommunication with said nozzle, a motor having its drive shaft connectedat one side to said fan and having the other side of said drive shaftconnected to reduction gearing, said reduction gearing being connectedto a chain sprocket, said brush having a sprocket on its shaft, therebeing a drive chain connecting said last named sprocket and said chainsprocket.

3. In a scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings, a frame ofgenerally rectangular configuration, a rotatable brush journalled in theforward portion of said frame, a hood over said brush, fluiddistributing means mounted over said brush and within said hood, asuction nozzle immediately to the rear of said hood, a suction fan incommunication with said nozzle, 9.

motor having its drive shaft connected at one side to said fan andhaving the other side of said drive shaft connected to reductiongearing, said reduction gearing being connected to a chain sprocket, aconduit leading from said fan to a waste receptacle, said wastereceptacle being mounted at a level slightly above and to the rear ofsaid fan, said conduit being disposed in a substantially flathorizontally inclined plane.

4. In a scrubbing machine for floors and floor coverings, a frame ofgenerally rectangular configuration, a rotatable brush journalled in theforward portion of said frame, a hood over said brush, fluiddistributing means mounted over said brush and within said hood, asuction nozzle immediately to the rear of said hood, a suction fan incommunication with said nozzle, a motor having its drive shaft connectedat one side to said fan and having the other side of said drive shaftconnected to reduction gearing, said reduction gearing being connectedto a chain sprocket, a conduit leading from said fan to a 10 wastereceptacle, said waste receptacle being mounted at a level slightlyabove and to the rear of said fan, said conduit being disposed in asubstantially fiat horizontally inclined plane, said waste receptaclebeing detachably secured to said frame and being easily removedtherefrom, the conduit extending into said receptacle beyond theinterior wall thereof.

VICTOR C. SNYDER.

